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Brad Holmes pushed back on Lions fans who think their title window is closed.
The 2026 NFL owners’ meetings are in full swing, but there was one notable absence that has fans of the Detroit Lions talking.
General manager Brad Holmes, who has been among the busier NFL executives so far this offseason, did not make an appearance at the gathering, and multiple reports indicate that he’s absent because of a “personal” matter.
“According to those with knowledge of the situation, Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes is NOT at owner’s meeting due to “personal” reasons,” Detroit Sports Podcast wrote on X.
The gathering is taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, and there is a contingent of Detroit Lions personnel on hand, including head coach Dan Campbell.
Right now, no reports have indicated the exact nature of why Holmes isn’t present in Phoenix other than it being that of a “personal” nature. We certainly hope that nothing is wrong and that he’ll be able to get back to the business at hand of improving Detroit’s roster for the critical 2026 NFL season soon.
Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes And Dan Campbell Put Down Rumors Of A Rift Between Them
Amidst reports of a rift between Holmes and Campbell, both men have since explained that no such disagreement exists.
“Brad and myself do everything together,” Campbell said, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “And despite what’s been out there, that’s a bunch of … listen, we’re golden, man. We are as good as we’ve ever been. We want to win, and we’re going to get it right.”
“I don’t know where the other stuff came from, but no,” Holmes said. “I mean, if anything, it’s me and Dan in total lockstep like we always have been, and we’re just kind of looking at everything top to bottom, which we already have done, and that we’ll continue to do for sure.”
Lions GM Brad Holmes Recently Addressed The Trade Of David Montgomery
Like most NFL teams this offseason, the Lions have brought in several new players while also bidding goodbye to several others.
One of the players that the Lions parted ways with was David Montgomery, who saw his workload reduced in the 2025 NFL season.
“It was evident that there were less touches that he had,” Holmes explained this week on the Lions Collective podcast. “And look, a lot of it was not just him. It’s how Jahmyr had ascended. Me and David’s agent — and David — we all had really healthy dialogue, and we just thought it was best for all parties. It was right after the end of the season that (we decided), let’s just see if we can get the proper return.”
However, he made it clear that there was no ill will between the two sides.
“That’s going to be not only a loss of just the player, but he was such an impact on our locker room from a leadership standpoint, our culture,” said Holmes. “But it was all healthy dialogue. There was never any bad blood or anything. And I think it worked out well for both parties.”
Michael Whitaker Michael Whitaker is a sports journalist based in metro Detroit with nearly a full decade of experience with publications like Clutch Points and The Hockey News. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Eastern Michigan University. More about Michael Whitaker
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